The  minister's  rate  for  1788, 
Richmond,  Massachusetts , 


by 

Frank  De  Wette  Andrews. 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


THE  MINISTER'S  RATE  FOR  1788 
Richmond,  Massachusetts 


Town  votes  for  a  new  church,  1794 
Rev.  David  Perry,  minister 
17844816 


COMPILED  BY 
FRANK    D.  ANDREWS 


PRIVATELY  PRINTED 


FORTY  COPIES  ONLY 


V  I  N  E  L  A  N  D,    N.    J. 
1922 


THE  MINISTER'S  RATE  FOR  1788 
Richmond,  Massachusetts 


Town  votes  for  a  new  church,  1794 
Rev.  David  Perry,  minister 
1784-1816 


COMPILED  BY 
FRANK     D.  ANDREWS 


PRIVATELY  PRINTED 

FORTY  COPIES  ONLY 


NUMBER   33 


V  I  N  E  L  A  N  D,    N.    J. 
1922 


PREFACE. 

Pleasantly  situated  in  a  charming  valley  among  the 
Berkshire  hills  of  Western  Massachusetts  is  the  town  of 
Richmond,  named  from  the  Duke  of  Richmond,  it  is  sup- 
posed, when  incorporated,  June  20,  1763.  as  the  town  of 
Richmont,  afterwards  changed  to  Richmond.  The  set- 
tlers soon  built  a  meeting-house  and  raised  money  to 
pay  a  minister.  The  name  of  the  first  preacher  is  un- 
known, so  it  is  stated.  His  successor  was  Rev.  Job  Swift 
who  became  their  pastor  in  1767.  He  was  followed  by 
Rev.  David  Perry  in  1784.  A  sketch  of  Mr.  Perry  will  be 
found  on  another  page,  also  the  names  of  the  tax-payers 
and  the  amount  of  the  tax  necessary  to  pay  the  pastor's 
salary. 

As  every  property  holder  was  taxed  we  have  the 
names  of  the  heads  of  families  living  in  Richmond  in  the 
year  1788. 

The  records  on  the  following  pages  are.  printed  from 
the  original  documents  in  the  compilers  possession.  It 
is  hoped  they  may  be  of  some  interest  to  local  historians 
and  genealogists.  f 

Acknowledgment  is  herewith  made  for  the  sketch  of 
Rev.  David  Perry  to  the  "Biographies  and  Annals  of 
Yale  College."  ''History  of  Harwinton.  Conn.,"  and 
"History  of  Western  Massachusetts." 

F.   D.   A. 

Vineland,   New  J.ersey. 
December  8,    i  922. 


516174 

LIB  SETS 


TOWN  VOTES  FOR  A  MEETING  HOUSE. 

In  the  year  1794  and  1795  the  Congregationalist  of 
Richmond,  Mass.,  erected  a  Meeting  House.  The  fol- 
lowing votes,  printed  from  the  original  manuscript,  may 
be  of  some  interest  to  the  present  or  former  residents  of 
the  place. 

January  27,  1794:  The  meeting  convened  according 
to  agreement,  the  committee  reported.  Chose  Zachariah 
Peirson,  Clerk  Pro  tern. 

Moved  that  the  Sense  of  the  Town  be  taken  wether 
they  like  the  report  of  the  Committe  and  the  price  of 
the  Land. 

Voted  in  the  afermitive  yeas  56,    Nays  31. 

Moved  to  se  if  the  Town  will  Grant  Seven  Hundred 
pounds  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  meeting  House  on 
Zachariah  Peirson  Land  near  Majour  Woods. 

Voted  in  the  Afermative,  Yeas  43,  Nays  28. 

Moved  to  se  if  the  Town  will  Chouse   a  committe  to 
Contract  with  some  Gentleman  for  building  a  meeting 
House. 
Voted  in  the  afermative. 

Voted  and  Chose  Capt.  Nathan  Peirson,  Henry  Sher- 
ril  and  Capt.  Ebenezer  Williams  a  committe  to  Contract 
with  Sum  Gentleman  for  building  A  meeting  House. 

Voted  to  ajourn  this  Meeting  four*  weeks  from  the  27 
of  January. 

February  24,  1794,  the  Meeting  Convened  acording  to 
agreement,  the  Commitle  reporttd. 

Moved  to  se  if  the  Town  will  impour  the  Committe  to 
pay  Mr.  Jonson  One  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  for  Com- 
pleeting  the  underpining  of  a  meeting  house  acording  fo 
the  Committe  Dementions. 
Voted  in  the  afirmative.  yeas  29.   Nays  26. 

Voted  to  ajorn  this  Meeting  til  Next  Monday  at  one 
of  the  O  clock  in  the  after  noon. 


3 

March  3  1794,  the  Meeting  Convened  acording  to  n- 
jornment. 

Moved  to  se  if  the  Meeting  Consider  the  Moderator  to 
be  legally  Chosen. 

Voted  in  the  afarmative. 

Moved  to  try  the  minds  of  the  Town  to  se  if  they  will 
Build  a  Meeting  House  on  Zachariah  Peirson  Land  near 
Majer  Wood. 

Voted  in  the  afermitive,  yeas  40,    Nays  38. 

Moved  to  se  if  the  Town  will  Chuse  a  committe. 

Moved  that  the  Sense  of  the  Town  be  taken  \vether 
they  will  agree  to  meet  at  a  futer  meeting  and  vote  for 
Six  places,  viz,  Zachariah  P.  Land,  Mr.  Barns  Land,  Mr. 
Pixleys  Lin.1,  E>q  Bishops  L  Mr.  Edwards  Land  and 
the  Old  Meeting  House,  and  that  they  will  Build  the 
Hous  were  the  gatest  Magorety  of  Votes  Shall  be. 

This  Meeting  is  ajornd  til  Next  thursday  at  One  Of 
the  Clock  after  noon/ 

Met  acording  to  adjournment. 

Moved  that  the  Town  build  a  M.  Hou^e  on  the  Hill 
where  the  old  house  stands. 

Voted  in  the  negative,  yeas  32.   Nays  71. 

Voted  &  Chose  Capt.  Nathan  Pierson,  Henry  Sherril 
&  John  Brown  a  Committe  to  make  and  Report  a  plan 
of  the  Size,  form  and  manner  of  Work  for  a  house  the 
Situation  of  the  same  and  to  see  with  whom  they  can 
make  the  most  advantageous  contract  to  accomplish  this 
work,  at  this  meeting,  at  the  adjournment. 

Voted  &  chose  D.  Rosseter,  J.  Gates,  J.  Raymond,  J. 
Ford  &  W.  Barnes  a  Committe  to  direct  the  Situation 
of  the  Meeting  house. 

Voted  to  reconsider  a  vote  granting  jCjoo  for  it. 

Voted  Granted  ^700  to  be  laid  out  in  building  a  Meet- 
ing house. 

Voted  and  chose   Capt.  Nathan  Peirson,    Joseph  Ray- 


4 

mond  &  Samnel  Gates  a  committee  who  are  hereby  au- 
thorised to  contract  with  any  person  with  whom  they 
can  most  advantagiously  agree  to  build  a  Meeting  house 
for  this  Town  agreeable  to  a  report  of  a  committee  made 
this  day,  to  inspect  and  superintend  the  erection  of  the 
house  and  to  borrow  in  behalf  of  the  Town  any  sum  or 
sums  'of  Money  that  may  be  necessary  to  be  advanced 
in  the  execution  of  the  business  before  the  money  can 
be  collected  by  taxes  &  procure  of  Zachariah  Pierson  a 
Deed  of  so  much  land  &  in  such  form  as  will  accommo- 
date the  Town  for  a  Meeting  house. 


ERRATUM:- 

Por  Rev.  Job  Smith,  page  6,  read  REV.  JOB  SWIFT. 


REV.  DAVID   PERRY. 

Rev.  David  Perry,  who  was  installed  minister  of  the 
church  at  Richmond,  Mass.  August  25,  1784,  was  born 
in  what  is  now  Huntington  in  Stratford,  Conn.  July  19, 
1746.  He  was  the  son  of  a  farmer,  Joshua  Perry-  His 
mother,  Mary  Leavenworth,  was  the  daughter  of  Dr. 
Thomas  Leavenworth.  David  Perry  entered  Yale  Col- 
lege and  graduated  from  that  institution  in  1772. 

He  studied  theology  with  his  uncle,  Rev.  Mark  Leav- 
enworth of  Waterbury,  and  it  is  believed  he  was  also  a 
pupil  of  Rev.  Joseph  Bellemy,  the  eminent  theologian. 

He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  New  Haven  County 
Association,  May  25,  1772.  The  church  at  Harwinton 
Conn,  having  dismissed  its  minister,  the  Rev.  Andrew 
Bartholomew,  the  society  voted  September  7,  1773,  "a 
committee  shall  apply  to  Rev.  David  Perry  to  preach 
with  them  the  winter  coming."  On  the  21,  the  action 
was  renewed  and  on  October  rr.  the  society  voted  "to 
settle  Mr.  Perry  in  the  work  of  the  ministry." 

Mr.  Perry  accepted  the  call  and  was  ordained  February 
15,  1774.  Mr.  Bartholomew,  the  former  pastor  was  in 
favor  of  the  half-way  covenant  which  he  strenuously  de- 
fended. It  was  understood  Mr.  Perry  would  baptize  the 
children  of  the  covenant-owners,  but  the  time  came  when 
he  could  not  conscientiously  apply  the  baptismal  ordi- 
nance to  the  infant  offspring  of  non-communicants,  and 
he  told  them  so,  this  led  to  his  dismission — with  the 
advice  of  other  churches  December  23,  1783. 


The  church  in  Richmond,  Mass.,  to  which  Mr.  Perry 
was  called  after  the  close  of  his  labors  in  Harwinton  was 
formed  in  1765,  Rev.  Job  Smith,  a  graduate  of  Yale 
College,  was  the  first  pastor.  Mr.  Perry  was  installed 
August  25,  1784.  In  this  new  position  he  was  not  only 
well  pleased  but  he  pleased  the  people.  The  number  of 
church  members  was  increased  from  thirty- one  at  his 
installation  by  the  addition  of  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
nine  during  his  ministry. 

His  long  service  was  brought  to  a  close  through  ill 
health,  which  so  impaired  his  ability  to  minister  to  his 
people  that  he  was  dismissed  January  i,  1816, 

Mr.  Perry  died  the  following  year,  June  7,  1817. 
The  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Dr.  Alvan 
Hyde  of  Lee,  Mass.  The  sermon  was  subsequently 
printed 

Mr.  Perry  married,  August  20,  1776,  Jerusha  Lord  of 
Middletown,  Conn,  daughter  of  Ichabod  Lord  of  Col- 
chester. They  had  ten  children,  seven  sons  and  three 
daughters.  Three  of  their  sons  graduated  at  Williams 
College.  Mrs.  Perry  died  at  the  home  of  her  son  at 
Lee,  July  13,  1832. 

It  has  been  said:  "the  religious  character  of  Mr.  Perry 
was  such  as  to  furnish  a  bright  example  to  every  gospel 
minister.  He  was  eminent  for  his  expressions  and  daily 
exhibitions  of  piety  and  eminently  devoted  and  faithful 
as  a  minister  of  Christ." 


THIS  IS  A  TRUE  COPY  OF  THE  MINISTER'S 
RATE:     ^100.. 17..  i     Nov  r  roth  1788. 

John  Bacon, 

Stephen  Benton,          Asses  r. 

Comfort  Wood, 

Names.  ^  s  d 

Austin,  Levi  15  5 

Andrus,  Ozias  17  5 

Ames,  Elias  3  i 

Akins,  Seth  311 

Andrus,  Asa  2  i 

Betts,  Aaron  6  7 

Bliss,  Jacob  17  i 

Bacon,  John  r  i  o 

Bell,  Soloman  i  2  i 

Brown,  Samuel  4  2 

Bliss,  Charles  2  5 

Betts,  Zebulon  2  6 

Brittan,  Benjamin  9  8 

Do.  as  Guardeen  6  o 

Blodget,  Abner  2  i 

Bryan,  Joseph  6  o 

Booth,  Samuel  n  2 

Bell,  Jason  5  g 

Bishop,  Leonard  2  9 

Branch,  Levi  8  5 

Bartlett,  John  5  8 

Betts,  Preserved  6  4 

Bishop,  Moses  2  6 

Branch,  Cyprian  8  3 

Bishop,  Nathaniel  19  6 


8  MINISTER'S  RATE  1788. 

Names.  £     s  d 

Branch,  Vine  17  ll 

Brown,  David  3  ° 

Barrit,  John  i  i 

Barnes,   William  15  2 

Bentou,  Stephen  15  5 

Betts,  Comstock  14  2 

Belts,   Enoch  2  i 

Barnes,  Jeremiah  12  o 

Bartlett,   William  3  9 

Betts,  Joel  6  o 

Bullard,   Samuel  2  i 

Brainard,   Daniel  i  2 

Crocker,   Ezekiel  254 

Crocker,  Ezekil  Jr.  2  i 

Crittenton,   Levi  6  2 

Coon,  Timothy  as  Guard.  3 

Cone,  Darius  2  i 

Carpenter,  Richard  12  10 

Cone,  Ashbell  i      i  o 

Crocker,  Oliver  5 

Cogswell,  Saml  Jur.  16  10 

Crocker,  John  8  10 

Cook,    Philip  2     6  1 1 

Collins,  Dan  5  3 

Cogswell,  Asahel  10  4 

Carpenter,  Simiou  10  9 

Cogswell,   Nathan  i     411 

Chidsey,  Jo.   &  Agustus  i     2  i 

Cole,  Timothy  2  5 

Collins.  Manasich  i     3  9 

Clark,  Joseph  13  8 

Colt,  Jabez  i      i  4 

Castle,   Ebenezer  i     o  9 

Carr,  John  4  3 


MINISTER'S  RATE,  1788.  9 

Names.                                                                     £     s  d 

Cook,  Walter  5  8 

Cogswell,  Levi                     «  6  9 

Cogswell,  Joseph  n  2 

Down,  Samuel  2  i 

Dewey,  Benedict  7 

Day,   Noah  2  2 

Dewey,  Solomon  16  i 

Dudley,  Jno  Jur.  3  4 

Dudley,  Wm  3  3 

Dorchester,  Stepb.  &  Alex.  14  5 

Dupee,  Charles  3  3 

Dudley.  Jno  19  6 

Dean,  Josiah  12  o 

Edwards,  William  16  9 

Edwards,  Gamaliel  2  i 

Edwards,  Daniel  5  10 

Flower,  George  6  4 

Frazur,   William  5  o 

Fuller,  Bithiah  Wid.  5  o 

Flower,  Theoron  5  1 1 

Fuller,  L,evi  12  i 

Fish,   Charles  2  5 

Ford,  Absalom  5  1 1 

Ford,  James  Jur  5  o 

Ford,  James  i   o  3 

Guttery,  Abel  i  i 

Gates,  James  10  o 

Garton,  Robert  10  7 

Gates,  James  O.  6  4 

Griswold.  Jer  h  4  2 

Gould,  John  2  i 

Gates,  Jonah  6  i 

Griffin,   Russel  i   o  4 

Graves,   Rufus  6  10 


10  MINISTER'S  RATE,  1788. 

Names.                                                                        £     s  d 

Gates,  Samuel  8  5 

Garton,  John  14  8 

Garton,  Naomi  n  i 

Garton,  Alex.  16  5 

Goodwin,  James  7  10 

Hazzard,  Nath  1  3  10 

Hill,  John  2  3 

Hall,  Gad  4  8 

Hachley,  Peter  i  3 

Hill,  Titus  17  2 

Hand,   Daniel  6  2 

Harrison,  Abel  16  8 

Harrison,  Abel  Jur  4  9 

Hall,  Daniel  9  o 

Hatch,   Daniel  3  o 

Hatch,  Stephen  7  o 

Hart,  Eben  r  8  6 

Hedges,  Lewes  9  5 

Hall,  Jno  13  i 

Holly,  Jonathan  8  6 

Hall,  Titus  Jur  124 

Hand,  Abram  2  2 

Hough,  Simon  2  9 

Hough,  Samuel  2  i 

Hillock,  Robert  6  7 

Hackley,  Sam  1  10  4 

Hoppen,   Henry  2  5 

Holly,   David  9  0 

Hurlbert,   Matthias  3  5 

Ingham,  Joseph  3  T 

Johnson,   Lemuel  9  2 

Jessup,   Nathaniel  5  5 

Kellogg,   Israel  10  ^9 

Kingsley,  Jeremiah  9  ^ 


MINISTER'S  RATE,  1788.  11 
Names.                                                                         £     s     d 

Lusk,  William  16     9 

Lusk,  John  15     i 

L,eadbetter,   Swift   Wm  2     2 

Lead  better,  Thomas  2      i 

Merriman,   Benj  a  95 

Merriman,    Amos  14     5 

Merriman,   Abram  7     9 

Miller,  Jeremiah  8     4 

Minor,   Rufus  3 

Miller,   Eleazer  4     9 

Melody,  Thomas-  3     i 

Nichols,  John  Jur  5   10 

Newell,  Eben  r  211 

Osborn,  Wm  7  i 
Peirson,  Nathan  4  18  i 
Peirson,  Benj  n  185 

Peirson,  Zach  h  15     7 

Peirson,  Jerh  8     6 

Pixley,   Moses  10     3 

Patterson,   Amos  12     9 

Patterson,  Joseph  13     8 

Plumb,   Eben  r  102 

Parmele,   Amos  9      r 

Parmele,  Ab  m  32 

Perry,  Rev.  David  7     3 

Peirce,    Pardon  2     i 

Plummer,  Frances  ^  4 
Rosseter.  Nathan  i  5  9 
Rosseter,  David  i  19  5 

Raymond,  Joseph  1 1      4 

Rosseter,   Nathan  Jur  55 

Raymond,   Paul  8     8 

Redington,   Elipht  14     9 

Rowley,  Tho  s  i     o 


12  MINISTER'S  RATE,  1788. 

Names.                                                                        £     s  d 

Rosseter,  Noah  5  ° 

Redfield,    Beriah  10  2 

Root,  Reuben  14 

Redington,   Daniel  7  6 

Redington,   Nathl  5  2 

Rowley,  Aaron                                                           i      i  6 

Rutley,  Ebenr  2  i 

Scott,  Thos       .  i?  ' 

Scott,  Thos  Jur  5  3 

Scott,  Stephen  3  o 

Scott,  Nathan  6  1 1 

Stevens,   Parker  7  6 

Smith,   Gager  2  3 

Sherrill,  Sam  1  10  7 

Stevens,  David                                                            i      i  i 

Smith,    Azel  /  2  i 

Spencer,  Eliakitn  1 1  4 

Slosson,   Daniel  13  i 

Smith,   Polhiayues  12  10 

Smith,  Ezra                                                                   i     5  5 

Sherrill,  Henry  17  o 

Stevens,  Elisha  9  2 

Skeel,  Jonathan  6  i  i 

Spencer,  Jude  2  9 

Tilden,   Isaac  9 

Tilden,  Calvin  10  9 

Tarbell,  Jonathan  17  9 

Tubbs,  Dan  2  3 

Tildeu,  Isaiah  12  o 

Tracy,  Simeon  19  10 

Do.   as  Guardian  i  3 

Wood,   Ichabod  9  7 

Williams,  John  18  10 

Wood,   Comfort  15  5 


MINISTER'S  RATE,  1788.  13 

Names.  £     s    d 

Williams,  Ebenr  15     8 

West,  Abner  9     7 

Williams  &  Miller  Adm  rs  4 

Webber,  Joseph  5     2 

Welch,  Nathan  3     3 

West,  Abner  Jur  4  10 

Welch,  Ebeu  r  1211 

Webber,  Chaimdler?  i     i 

Winston,  Abram  2     5 

West,  William  6     2 

Walters,  Benj  a  120 

Williams,  David  12     5 

Adams,  Thomas  2     5 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


Form  L9-25m-9,'47(A5618)444 


*F74 

R4A5  Andrews  - 

The  minister  !s 
rate  for  1788. 


*F74 
R4A5 


